Girls track and field sectional: Royals win fourth in a row, seven schools get individual champs

By RICHIE HALL
FISHERS – This year’s edition of the Hamilton Southeastern girls track and field sectional was arguably one of the more balanced sectionals on record.
The athletes at the event performed accordingly, with great performances from all of the competing schools. That included individual sectional champions from seven different schools.
In the team standings, the host Royals won again, using their solid depth to score 143 points. This marks the fourth straight sectional title for Southeastern, its longest streak of consecutive wins. Overall, HSE has won 13 team sectional championships.
Southeastern won the most individual events with seven, including two in record time. Senior Tierra Sydnor was part of both new records: She set a new mark while winning the long jump, breaking her own record with an effort of 18 feet, 8.5 inches. At the conclusion of the meet, Sydnor joined Olivia Burgess, Mya Hammons and Regan Wans to claim the 4×400 relay. The Royals team finished the race in 3 minutes, 54.72 seconds, beating a record that had stood for 15 years.
“It was our goal tonight to run 3:53, and I think we came close to it, so I’m pretty happy about that,” said Sydnor. The team will have another chance to reach that mark next Tuesday at the Lafayette Jefferson regional. All top three finishers automatically qualify for the regional, along with anyone who meets or betters the state standard in an event. Several runners from all county schools are likely to get callbacks to the regional as well.
Sydnor finished with three event wins, also placing first in the 300 hurdles.
The freshman Wans also picked up an individual win, taking the 400 dash. Maddie Mirro paced the 800 run, while Lulu Black ran away with the 3200 run. Mirro and Black were also part of the first-place 4×800 relay, joining Annice McFarland and Ellie Pedersen.
Southeastern’s 4×100 relay finished second, with Olivia Burgess, Mya Hammons, Sydnor and Alyssa Barker running under the state standard time. Other top three finishers (and regional qualifiers) for the Royals are Barker in the 100 and 200 dashes, Burgess in the 200 dash, Halle Hill in the 1600 run, Kennedy Drish in the pole vault and Jehnea Mirro in the long jump.
“Plenty on to regionals, lots of good spots there,” said HSE coach Julie Alano. “800, Maddie Mirro did well. 200, we went 2-3, those two are both running well. Just lots of good spots. We like to have someone score in every event. We didn’t quite do that tonight like we did last week, but still a good night.”
In addition, Ella Wilhelm finished fifth in the pole vault, but her vault of 11-2 was right on the state standard, giving her a ticket to the regional next week.
“We knew she could, it was just getting it together,” said Alano. “I think the weather helped tonight, too. Great weather, and so they both cleared.”
Fishers finished in second place as a team, scoring 110.5 points. Freshman phenom Ella Scally led the way, winning three events.
Scally was first in the 100 and 200 dashes, then joined Myah Donaldson, Gabrielle Lewis and Grace May to take the 4×100 relay. Scally also advanced in the long jump, placing second.
Other regional qualifiers for the Tigers are Teresa Kraft in the 3200, Katie Folta and Arianna Kelley in the 300 hurdles, the 4×800 relay team of Abigail Carter, Vera Schafer, Emma Gillespie and Elizabeth Barrett, and Allison Casey in the pole vault. Fishers is likely to get several callbacks as well.
“Things went really well,” said Tigers coach Andrew Belloli. The coach said Scally “had another outstanding night,” as she totaled over 30 points.
“On the track, almost everyone had an amazing day,” said Belloli.
Noblesville had an amazing day as well, placing third with 90 points. Shelby Tyler led the way for the Millers, dominating the high jump and finishing second in the pole vault.
Tyler won the high jump with a leap of 5-11, nine inches higher than second place. After that, Tyler went 11-6 in the pole vault – “I think that’s the fifth time I’ve tied my PR,” said Tyler. Western Boone’s Grace Huckstep won that event with an 11-10 vault; both easily cleared the state standard.
“The goal was to get out of the sectional in both events, which I did,” said Tyler. “But I’m also reaching for those higher heights just to prepare me for higher competition.”
Noblesville had several regional qualifiers, and a few more should get callbacks as well. Also advancing to Lafayette are Maria Anderson in the 400, Lindsey Wormuth in the 100 hurdles, the 4×400 team of Anderson, DeLaney Boles, Bella Sharples-Gordon and Noelle Dennis, and the 4×800 team of Anderson, Sharples-Gordon, Aubrie Deal and Anna Hazelrigg.
Carmel placed fourth with 84 points. Phoebe Bates had another solid outing for the Greyhounds, winning in the 1600 run and placing second in the 3200 run.
Other Carmel athletes advancing on to the regional are Riley Pennington in the 100 dash, Emersen Carlisle in the 400 dash, Olivia Elkin in the 100 hurdles, the 4×100 relay team of Aaliyah Thompson, Pennington, Kiara Gill and Flora McKay, and the 4×400 relay team of Abbey Grogan, Thompson, Abby Kaufman, Mahalet Zeruesenay. The Greyhounds should also get some callbacks as well.
Hamilton Heights and Lebanon tied for fifth place with 47 points each. Maria Mitchell tied for second in the 800 and 1600 runs, while Kelsie Smith finished third in the high jump, all ensuring a spot at regionals. A handful of Huskies are also likely to get callbacks.
Westfield scored 43 points and had two sectional champions. Senior Zoe Pentecost won the shot put with a personal best of 39-4, and also placed second in the discus, advancing her to the regional in both events. Pentecost beat the state standard in the discus with a throw of 125-9.
“It feels really good,” said Pentecost. “I’ve put in a lot of work and been consistent for a while, and having a breakthrough feels really good.”
Haley Boehm cruised to victory in the 100 hurdles, finishing over a second ahead of second place. The ‘Rocks are likely to get callbacks as well.
Sheridan scored 22.5 points, with Becca Merritt leading the way. The junior won the discus event, breaking her own school record again with a throw of 141-10 – over 16 feet above the state standard.
Merritt also placed second in the shot put, so she heads to regional in both events.
“I think threw very, very well,” said Merritt. “I surpassed my goals that I’ve made this year three times.”
Heather Barker finished fourth in the high jump, but her effort of 4-10 could get her a callback.
Guerin Catholic scored 20 points. Ellie Schroeder placed third in the 800 run, giving her a spot at the regional.
University scored three points. Abby Hannon finished seventh in the shot put, while Rachael Major was eighth in the 100 dash.
Team scores and top eight results now follow.

Team scores: Hamilton Southeastern 143, Fishers 110.5, Noblesville 90, Carmel 84, Hamilton Heights 47, Lebanon 47, Westfield 43, Sheridan 22.5, Guerin Catholic 20, Western Boone 13, University 3.
100 dash: 1. Ella Scally (F) 12.39, 2. Alyssa Barker (HSE) 12.53, 3. Riley Pennington (C) 12.72, 4. Kara Funk (L) 12.89, 5. Myah Donaldson (F) 12.92, 6. Kiana Siefert (N) 13.23, 7. Flora McKay (C) 13.43, 8. Rachael Major (U) 13.94.
200 dash: 1. Scally (F) 25.23, 2. Olivia Burgess (HSE) 25.45, 3. Barker (HSE) 25.46, 4. Gabrielle Lewis (F) 26.23, 5. Hallie Montgomery (L) 26.60, 6. Aaliyah Thompson (C) 26.71, 7. Markaela Pugh (HH) 26.72, 8. Ellie Marsella (C) 27.07.
400 dash: 1. Regan Wans (HSE) 57.46, 2. Maria Anderson (N) 58.94, 3. Emersen Carlisle (C) 1:00.02, 4. Annice McFarland (HSE) 1:00.49, 5. Summer Stogsdill (L) 1:01.15, 6. Abbey Grogan (C) 1:01.81, 7. Evelyn Butler (F) 1:02.20, 8. Kieya McClung-Ware (F) 1:04.13.
800 run: 1. Maddie Mirro (HSE) 2:17.74, 2. Maria Mitchell (HH) 2:18.82, 3. Ellie Schroeder (GC) 2:19.01, 4. Vera Schafer (F) 2:19.85, 5. Anna Hazelrigg (N) 2:20.01, 6. Bella Sharples-Gordon (N) 2:20.69, 7. Ellie Pedersen (HSE) 2:20.84, 8. Annie Christie (C) 2:23.65.
1600 run: 1. Phoebe Bates (C) 5:00.35, 2. Mitchell (HH) 5:03.90, 3. Halle Hill (HSE) 5:04.45, 4. Schroeder (GC) 5:09.47, 5. Elizabeth Barrett (F) 5:16.12, 6. Murphy Adams (L) 5:20.09, 7. Abigail Carter (F) 5:20.11, 8. Sarah Coates (W) 5:24.96.
3200 run: 1. Lulu Black (HSE) 10:49.12, 2. Bates (C) 11:08.03, 3. Teresa Kraft (F) 11:22.11, 4. Ellie Johnson (HSE) 11:23.69, 5. Johanna Strueder (F) 11:23.99, 6. Brooke Waldal (C) 11:27.93, 7. Audrey Knoper (WB) 11:35.37, 8. Aubrey Swart (N) 11:43.96.
100 hurdles: 1. Haley Boehm (W) 15.47, 2. Lindsey Wormuth (N) 16.62, 3. Olivia Elkin (C) 16.81, 4. Alaina Schultze (HH) 17.18, 5. Lewis (F) 17.20, 6. Madi Tester (C) 17.36, 7. Marissa Schneider (B) 17.49, 8. Veronica Meredith (HH) 18.44.
300 hurdles: 1. Tierra Sydnor (HSE) 45.51, 2. Katie Folta (F) 47.37, 3. Arianna Kelley (F) 47.90, 4. Boehm (W) 48.76, 5. Elkin (C) 49.37, 6. Brooke Baker (HSE) 49.88, 7. Lauren Sandys (N) 49.92, 8. Reagan Vandermark (C) 51.29.
4×100 relay: 1. Fishers (Scally, Donaldson, Lewis, Grace May) 48.43, 2. Southeastern (Burgess, Mya Hammons, Sydnor, Barker) 48.62, 3. Carmel (Thompson, Pennington, Kiara Gill, McKay) 50.07, 4. Lebanon (Sara Nino, Montgomery, Stogsdill, Funk) 50.19, 5. Heights (Pugh, Samera Henson, Jenna Peterson, Victoria Lopez) 51.35, 6. Noblesville (Wormuth, DeLaney Boles, Siefert, Arianna Rice) 52.50, 7. Guerin Catholic (Anna Jacoby, Anna Hallett, Allison Keller, Emma Bock) 53.49, 8. Western Boone (Alyssa Wethington, Anaiha Baxter, Maddie Holubik, Ester Pasolli) 57.87.
4×400 relay: 1. Southeastern (Burgess, Hammons, Sydnor, Wans) 3:54.72, new sectional record, 2. Carmel (Grogan, Thompson, Abby Kaufman, Mahalet Zeruesenay) 4:02.18, 3. Noblesville (Anderson, Boles, Sharples-Gordon, Noelle Dennis) 4:03.93, 4. Fishers (Kate Baumgartner, Lilia Bodnar, Kelley, Chloe Schroeder) 4:06.90, 5. Guerin Catholic (Jacoby, Joelle Klavon, Ellie Schroeder, Delaney Klee) 4:09.61, 6. Heights (Pugh, Abby Christiansen, Morgan Guthrie, Kelsey Smith) 4:10.30, 7. Westfield (Coates, Sophia Brown, Julia Clark, Raychl Zimmerman) 4:16.06, 8. Lebanon (Emma Huse, Kirstin Byrd, Nino, Stogsdill) 4:19.66.
4×800 relay: 1. Southeastern (Mirro, McFarland, Pedersen, Black) 9:20.20, 2. Noblesville (Anderson, Sharples-Gordon, Aubrie Deal, Hazelrigg) 9:27.14, 3. Fishers (Carter, Schafer, Emma Gillespie, Barrett) 9:29.27, 4. Carmel (Emily Hand, Christie, Martha Hunter, Sydney Haines) 9:33.09, 5. Westfield (Hannah Fife, Brown, Julia Clark, ChristyAnn Delahunty) 9:42.87, 6. Guerin Catholic (Isabelle Museck, Grace Vlasak, Sophia Woods, Allison Wozniak) 10:09.53, 7. Heights (Christiansen, Guthrie, Chloe Henderson, Abby Roth) 10:14.53, 8. Lebanon (Rylee Miller, Lauren Gascho, Lizzie Kincaid, Katie Hasty) 11:36.79.
High jump: 1. Shelby Tyler (N) 5-11, 2. Christina Lamb (L) 5-2, 3. Smith (HH) 5-1, T4. Madisyn Etheredge (HSE) 4-10; Heather Barker (S) 4-10, 6. Lillian Wilhelm (N) 4-10, 7. Huse (L) 4-8.
Pole vault: 1. Grace Huckstep (WB) 11-10, 2. Tyler (N) 11-6, T3. Alison Casey (F) 11-2; Kenney Drish (HSE) 11-2, 5. Ella Wilhelm (HSE) 11-2, 6. Jenna Springirth (C) 10-10, 7. Erika Knieper (N) 10-6, 8. McKay (C) 9-6.
Long jump: 1. Sydnor (HSE) 18-8.5, new sectional record, 2. Scally (F) 18-4.75, 3. Jehnea Mirro (HSE) 16-9.25, 4. Siefert (N) 16-8, 5. Folta (F) 16-7.5, 6. Sydney Black (W) 16-4.5, 7. Madeline Ferreri (W) 15-10, 8. Gill (C) 15-9.5.
Shot put: 1. Zoe Pentecost (W) 39-4, 2. Becca Merritt (S) 37-7.5, 3. Ashlyn Terrill (L) 37-3.5, 4. Anna Kiser (N) 36-1.5, 5. Devyn Palmer (N) 35-5.25, 6. Taylor Mason (HH) 35-5.25, 7. Abby Hannon (U) 33-1.25, 8. Olivia Willman (F) 32-11.5.
Discus: 1. Merritt (S) 141-10, 2. Terrill (L) 129-1.5, 3. Pentecost (W) 125-9, 4. Lauryn Wiley (HH) 115-8, 5. Kiser (N) 114-5.5, 6. Leah Roebuck (C) 114-2, 7. Audra Hogan (HSE) 108-6.5, 8. Aubrie Ginther (N) 102-4.5.

Hamilton Southeastern’s Tierra Sydnor was part of two new meet records for the Royals during the Tuesday girls track and field sectional. Sydnor set new marks in the long jump (pictured) and as part of the 4×400 relay. (Kent Graham)